Composite outline of the original Vikrama-carita Ixxxix
5. Into a pot of hot oil BR (but below BE refers to ihefire^ instead). JR does not
mention the manner in which he first propitiated the goddess; his daily task is the
same as in the others. 6. So ME-, BE; seven kettles SE; JE more vaguely, "as
much riches as he desired." 7. In ME the witches intervene and grant his wish with-
out the intended sacrifice. 8. JE adds several vss in praise of the king, spoken by
" the people " on this occasion.
18. Story of the Eighteenth Statuette. Vikrama Visits the Sun's Orb
Once a stranger1 came into the assembly, and in answer to the king's
question told of a strange thing he had seen. Near the eastern moun-
tain 2 was a lake,3 with a temple of the sun and a shrine of Qiva.4 In
the middle of the water there was a golden pillar, with a wondrous
throne upon it, which rose from the water every morning at sunrise,
mounted together with the sun, and at noon toucht the sun's disk;
then descending it sank under the water at sunset. This holy ford
was called Purger from Sin.5 Hearing this the king went thither,6
and stayed over night; at sunrise he mounted the throne when it
came out of the water, and was gradually carried by it up to the sun.
Tho burnt to a crisp, he addrest vss7 of praise to the Sun, who was
pleased and restored him with nectar.8 Tho the king declared he
desired nothing,9 as a mark of his favor the Sun gave him two rings
which yielded a load of gold each day. Taking leave of the Sun the
king returned with the pillar-throne to the earth.10 On his way back
to the city he met a very poor begging brahman,11 to whom he gave
the two rings.
1. MR has a few prefatory lines in praise of Vikrama. SR prefixes a long disserta-
tion on conduct in general, a miniature nitigastra, which the speaking statue claims to
have overheard a brahman Govindacarman telling to his son. 2. ** On the shore of
the ocean "! BR. 3. So BR, JR, but in SR, MR a river (the Ganges SR, the Surya,-
prabhaMR). 4, The shrine of Qiva only in SR, BR. 5. This title not in BR. 6. By
his magic sandals BR, JR. 7. Not in BR. Some (but different) vss are quoted in
SR, JR. 8. So SR, JR. 9. Not mentioned in MR. 10. MR has a curious addition
here; the king does not stop at the surface of the earth as he returns, but plunges
into the river to find where the pillar comes from; he discovers the home of the god-
dess Prabha (" Splendor ")> the bride of the Sun, who gives Trim a magic amulet
(which he afterwards gives away along with the rings). 11* Simply a beggar JR; a
begging brahman and his wife MR. BR has a curious independent variant; the de-
votees of the sun's temple at the ford pause in their service and give the king a bless-
, ing, and beg for a gift; he gives them the rings.